In Loving Memory of Martin Boyle...

Updated on 2/9/2018 then 2/15/2024

Martin Boyle was a core leader of the first national miners union in the United States. The first coal miners union was organized in Belleville, St. Clair county, Illinois.

His "parentage was Irish" according to H.W. Smith's Coal Miners Unions in Illinois 1914 account. His account in this book says he was the first president of this union, but it's not a primary source since he never knew him and is based on stories passed down. The very early days of this union were necessarily secretive, so there isn't any written account showing that he was indeed the first president. He was an instrumental leader in this union organizing and gaining members as a traveling speaker to support the miners and their just cause.

His birthplace is not conclusive since there are conflicting sources giving Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and England. Rhode Island is compelling because it's in the 1850 and 1860 census, but not definitive. There is no family history or primary source linking him to Rhode Island.

His residence was in St. Clair County according to his 1860 and 1865 federal censuses and his widow Sarah and children continued living there appearing in the 1870 federal census.

"He simultaneously organized miners into local branches of the national union, gathered mass petitions for Illinois legislation for just weighing of coal (prevention of wage theft) and built two miners' regiments for the Civil War. He was known as a brilliant speaker and dynamic leader and obviously connected the fight for the nation with the fight for union rights."

Source for the above paragraph from forthcoming draft of the book by Rosemary Feurer. As of 2024, it's a great work in progress.

He married Sarah I. McNair who was a native of Liverpool, England according to her daughter Mary Irene Stone's death record it says England and in the funeral log it says Liverpool.

His wife's death date and place is unknown at this time. Likely in or near Denver, Colorado, where she was last enumerated in 1880 at age 51. That census noted that she was suffering from catarrh of the lungs.

From this union, they had five children:

Mary Irene, Catherine Luisa, William, John Walker and Alice M. Only know death dates and burial location for these two children: Mary Stone and John Boyle. His wife Sarah Boyle's 1880 federal census says her father was born in Scotland and her mother in England.

His daughter Mary's death certificate in 1928 gives England as his birthplace, but her as well as her brother John's censuses in 1880, 1900, 1910 and 1920 give Rhode Island as their father's birthplace except John's 1910 census gives PA. His son William's 1900 census says f. PA and m. PA and 1920 gives f. Ireland and m. Scotland. No sources or family history related to Rhode Island as far as I know.

The 1914 Illinois coal miner union history account referenced above by Jack LeChien says his parentage was Irish. I'm not sure if this was based on a record I don't have or based on his surname Boyle.

Martin Boyle's 1850 and 1860 censuses give Rhode Island. It's interesting to note that the Miners' Association in Bellville, St. Clair county, Illinois, for which he was an early member and leader was founded by Englishmen according to historical accounts. Hopefully another source will be found to make his birthplace and ancestry more conclusive. See two of his children's memorials linked to him for few more details on the family history in cities before Belleville.

Note that the Miners Association was later called the American Miners Association (AMA).

He and his wife were residents of Wapello County, Iowa; Jackson, Lee County, Iowa and St. Clair County, Illinois.

He was the spokesman and leader of coal mining strikers in the winter of 1860 and a traveling lecturer in 1861 for the Miners' Association in Belleville, Illinois. Also, Captain of a few companies which he organized himself to fight for the Union army from IL and MO. He died before he saw the front according to his obituary. I have not found him in any muster roll calls, but his involvement is mentioned in newspaper accounts including his obituary. His likely burial in St. Clair County is unknown at this time.

Martin Boyle is mentioned in Mark A. Lause's book "Free Labor: The Civil War and the Making of an American Working Class" on page 42. Publication year: 2015. See quotations below.

"The same dynamic moved workers in other, less documented industries. Martin Boyle, the national lecturer for the American Miners Association, left to raise troops in Illinois. He recruited one company that elected him captain, but he chose to leave and raise another, after which he died of natural causes."

Mr. Lause's source of information comes from Edward A. Wieck's Collection Papers, 1886-1953, placed at the Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs.

Belleville Weekly Democrat

Belleville, St. Clair County, Illinois

August 17, 1861

Obituary

Died, suddenly, on Saturday the 10th of August, in Belleville, Captain Martin Boyle. The news of the sudden death of Captain Boyle, will be received by his many friends, with astonishment and deep regret. How true it is, that, "In the midst… (microfilm cut off a few lines)…. depart on the same train with the three companies which left for St. Louis on that occasion, and a more robust and healthy looking man, could not be found on the train.

During the "Miners' strike" which occurred last winter, Martin Boyle, became famous as a spokesman and a leader of the strikers, and a was mainly instrumental in obtaining the passage of the bill, which was introduced in the State Senate by Judge Underwood, for the establishment of a uniform system of measurement by "Coal Sealers," appointed by the County Court, to prevent frauds being practiced upon the workmen, by the use of false weights and measures. At the conclusion of the strike, Martin Boyle was refused employment again, on account of the active part which he had taken in advocating the cause of the workmen, but he was immediately employed by the "Miners' Association" as traveling lecturer, and in that capacity he served them faithfully for some months, making frequent visits to all the different mining districts in Missouri and Illinois, where he exercised almost unbounded influence among the operatives in these localities. When the war broke out, he was solicited by a number of men to organize a military company, of which he was chosen Captain, and, going to the Arsenal with his men, he was ordered to recruit for the regiment of which his company formed a part. During his absence, on this service, the majority of his men were drafted into other companies, and when he returned, bringing with him a large number of recruits which he had obtained at his own expense, he objected to the liberty which had been taken with his command, and after having recruited nearly 200 men for which he never received any compensation, feeling soured at the treatment he had received, he returned to his family, where it would have been well if he could have been contented. But he was again induced to try to raise recruits for the army, and while laboring in that capacity, he became somewhat intemperate and met his death.

Captain Boyle was enthusiastic and impulsive, full of that large hearted generosity, which forgetful of self, labors for the general good, and his memory will be held in high respect by the operative miners, whose cause he so well served.

He has left a wife and five children to bewail his loss. Let his faults be drowned in the memory of the good traits which formed the basis of his character.

Belleville Weekly Democrat

Belleville, St. Clair County, Illinois

May 31, 1861

Another Company Raised

Another company has been raised in Old St. Clair within the past few days, by the exertions of Mr. Martin Boyle. They are composed of a fine body of men, inured to hardships, and capable of doing good service to their country. They are ready to move at the call of either the United States government or the State of Illinois on the shortest notice. This company meets today at Seitz's Tavern on the Lebanon road, to perfect their organization, and to transact other business.

It is understood that they will be immediately drafted into service of the U.S. -- probably in the sixth Missouri regiment. We congratulate Capt. Boyle upon the formation of his company, which has been raised with a spontaneity rarely exhibited on any occasion, and which only affords additional evidence of the high esteem in which he is held by those who know him best.

All research done by his 2nd great granddaughter with the username "arborvitae" unless noted otherwise. Please contact me via Find A Grave if you are directly related to and/or researching Martin Boyle or his wife Sarah I. McNair and family.

More history on the Miners Association:

Title: The American Miners' Association: A Record of the Origin of Coal Miners' Unions in the United States

Author: Edward A. Wieck

Publisher: Russell Sage Foundation, 1940

Gottlieb, Amy Zahl. "British Coal Miners: A Demographic Study of Braidwood and Streator, Illinois." Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society (1908-1984), vol. 72, no. 3, 1979, pp. 180, Footnote 8. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40191274.

https://labortribune.com/is-this-the-birthplace-of-the-labor-movement-historian-thinks-it-might-be/

https://hinton-gen.com/coal/ama.html